Microfluidic cartridge and microfluidic delivery device comprising the same

Abstract

A microfluidic cartridge is provided. The microfluidic cartridge is configured to be releasably connectable with a microfluidic delivery device. The microfluidic cartridge has a reservoir configured to contain a fluid composition. The microfluidic cartridge has a first face with a first opening and a second opening. The microfluidic cartridge also includes a second face joined with the first face, a third face joined with the second face and opposing the first face, and a fourth face joined with the third face and the first face and opposing the second face. The fourth face has a connector. The microfluidic cartridge has an electrical circuit with a first end portion disposed on the first face and a second end portion disposed on the second face. The microfluidic cartridge also includes a microfluidic die disposed on the second face. The microfluidic die is in electrical communication with the electrical circuit and in fluid communication with the reservoir.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A microfluidic cartridge, the microfluidic cartridge defining mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z-axes extending outwardly from a common origin, the microfluidic cartridge comprising:
 a reservoir configured to contain a fluid composition; 
 a first face; 
 a second face joined with the first face; 
 a third face joined with the second face and opposing the first face along the Z-axis, the third face comprising a projection extending to a third face outermost point in the X-direction; 
 a fourth face opposing the second face along the X-axis; 
 an electrical circuit comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion of the electrical circuit is disposed on the first face and the second end portion of the electrical circuit is disposed on the second face; and 
 a microfluidic die in electrical communication with the electrical circuit and in fluid communication with the reservoir, wherein the microfluidic die is disposed on the second face. 
 
     
     
       2. The microfluidic cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the projection extends from the third face to the fourth face in the Z-direction, and wherein the projection extends outward from the fourth face in the X-direction. 
     
     
       3. The microfluidic cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the projection is arcuate in shape. 
     
     
       4. The microfluidic cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the third face comprises an indentation disposed at the projection and extending inward into the third face in the Z-direction. 
     
     
       5. The microfluidic cartridge of  claim 4 , wherein the indentation is round. 
     
     
       6. The microfluidic cartridge of  claim 1  further comprising a lid enclosing the reservoir, the lid disposed on the third face, wherein the lid comprises the projection. 
     
     
       7. The microfluidic cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the fourth face comprising a connector disposed on the projection. 
     
     
       8. The microfluidic cartridge of  claim 7 , wherein the connector is a female connector. 
     
     
       9. The microfluidic cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic die is disposed adjacent to the first face. 
     
     
       10. The microfluidic cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic die is disposed on a recessed region that extends from a first edge toward the third face in the Z-direction. 
     
     
       11. The microfluidic cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic cartridge is connectable with a housing of a microfluidic delivery device such that the first face is a bottom face and the second face is a side face. 
     
     
       12. The microfluidic cartridge of  claim 1 , wherein the microfluidic die comprises a semiconductor substrate comprising a plurality of fluid ejection actuators, a fluid flow substrate comprising a fluid supply channel and one or more fluid chambers, wherein each fluid chamber is associated with a fluid ejection actuator, and a nozzle plate comprising one or more nozzles, wherein each nozzle is in fluid communication with a fluid chamber. 
     
     
       13. The microfluidic cartridge of  claim 12 , wherein the fluid ejection actuators are thermal resistors, and wherein the fluid composition comprises a perfume mixture. 
     
     
       14. A microfluidic cartridge, the microfluidic cartridge defining mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z-axes extending outwardly from a common origin, the microfluidic cartridge comprising:
 a reservoir configured to contain a fluid composition; 
 a first face comprising a first opening and a second opening; 
 a second face joined with the first face; 
 a third face joined with the second face and opposing the first face; 
 a fourth face joined with the third face and the first face and opposing the second face, wherein the fourth face comprises a connector; 
 an electrical circuit comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion of the electrical circuit is disposed on the first face and the second end portion of the electrical circuit is disposed on the second face; and 
 a microfluidic die disposed on the second face, wherein the microfluidic die is in electrical communication with the electrical circuit and in fluid communication with the reservoir. 
 
     
     
       15. The microfluidic cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the first opening is a minor opening having an open area and wherein the second opening is a major opening having an open area, wherein the open area of the major opening is greater than the open area of the minor opening. 
     
     
       16. The microfluidic cartridge of  claim 15 , wherein the electrical circuit comprises a circuit opening in the first end portion, wherein the circuit opening aligns with the minor opening. 
     
     
       17. The microfluidic cartridge of  claim 14 , wherein the microfluidic cartridge is connectable with a housing of a microfluidic delivery device such that the first face is a bottom face and the second face is a side face, wherein the microfluidic die comprises a semiconductor substrate comprising a plurality of thermal resistors, a fluid flow substrate comprising a fluid supply channel and one or more fluid chambers, wherein each fluid chamber is associated with a fluid ejection actuator, and a nozzle plate comprising one or more nozzles, wherein each nozzle is in fluid communication with a fluid chamber, and wherein the fluid composition comprises a perfume mixture. 
     
     
       18. A microfluidic delivery device comprising:
 a housing, the housing comprising a first guidepost and a second guidepost, the housing further comprising housing electrical contacts in electrical connection with a power source, wherein the housing comprises a first connector, 
 a microfluidic cartridge releasably connectable with the housing, the microfluidic cartridge defining mutually orthogonal X, Y, and Z-axes extending outwardly from a common origin, the microfluidic cartridge comprising: 
 a reservoir containing a fluid composition; 
 a bottom face comprising a first opening configured to receive the first guidepost and a second opening configured to receive the second guidepost; 
 a first side face joined with the bottom face; 
 a top face joined with the first side face and opposing the bottom face; 
 a second side face joined with the top face and the bottom face and opposing the first side face, wherein the second side face comprises a second connector that is releasably connected with the first connector of the housing; 
 an electrical circuit comprising a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the first end portion of the electrical circuit is disposed on the first face and the second end portion of the electrical circuit is disposed on the second face; and 
 a microfluidic die disposed on the second face, wherein the microfluidic die is in electrical communication with the electrical circuit and in fluid communication with the reservoir. 
 
     
     
       19. The microfluidic delivery device of  claim 18 , wherein the microfluidic cartridge is spring-loaded with the housing. 
     
     
       20. The microfluidic delivery device of  claim 18 , wherein the third face comprises a projection extending to a third face outermost point in the X-axis, and wherein the microfluidic die comprises a semiconductor substrate comprising a plurality of thermal resistors, a fluid flow substrate comprising a fluid supply channel and one or more fluid chambers, wherein each fluid chamber is associated with a fluid ejection actuator, and a nozzle plate comprising one or more nozzles, wherein each nozzle is in fluid communication with a fluid chamber, and wherein the fluid composition comprises a perfume mixture.